Hugh McPherson

Management with a Heart

Grow your people with good systems and clear expectations

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Marketing Magic

Real "fill-in-the-blank" marketing plans you can use

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Keynotes, Sessions, & Workshops

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Business Strategy Training

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Hugh stands for Positive. Business. Action.

Positive energy. In small and family businesses, life inevitably intertwines with business. You must do what you love. You must bring positive energy to every interaction with guests, clients, colleagues, and your family. Hugh brings positive energy even to the most challenging topics as he write blogs, films videos and records podcasts.

Business focused. Hugh explores ideas related to growing, marketing, and building your business. His experience spans half a dozen industries, and that real, practical experience informs each piece of content. Wine making, fruit growing, pick-your-own, corn mazes, event marketing, festival operations, attraction design, social media, and online marketing are all hands-on resources in his toolbox.

Action. Ideas are nice. Theory is nice, but ACTION wins the day. Hugh stands for full accountability and massive action. If you resonate with a message of hope and growth through hard work and perseverance, you’ll enjoy what Hugh offers here.

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Blogs, Videos, & Podcast

Hugh writes, films, and records about small business, family business, marketing, attractions, and great books each week. Search by topic to get what you'd like best.

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Tools

Want to know how we do it? This is your reference guide to software, hardware, suppliers, and more we use to deliver great experiences to our guests.

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Speaking

Need a dynamic speaker for your convention or event? Hugh brings positive energy and a positive message, while providing 'hard deliverables' to attendees who'll go home ready to take action.

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Hugh's Team

Meet Hugh and the rest of the masterminds here to help you market and grow your business!

The Maze Master

Hugh built Maize Quest® from the ground up. His experience helps build entertainment value through attraction selection and marketing know-how. Maize Quest's operational and marketing systems were developed from Hugh's hands-on experience and his compilation of information from across our network of operators. That system saves you time and money while it builds traffic. Hugh's the 'Big Idea' guy who lives for creating innovations in maze-based entertainment. Are you looking for the next big idea?

"Designer Dave" Phillips

Is your maze being designed by a farmer or a maze designer? We flat out stole Dave from the publishing industry where he was a syndicated puzzle creator and published over 40 books! Designer Dave has been a professional maze designer and artist for over 30 years. You have more fun operating your maze because the maze design reduces customer tension, aids employee control and handles crowds efficiently. His drive for perfection in design is unparalleled in entertainment farming. Design matters. A focused, professional designer of Dave's caliber simply is not available anywhere else.

Michelle Posey

Catalyst

She's been here since the beginning in 1997. Hugh's 'right-hand woman' makes sure orders are filled, game sheets are printed, groups are booked, employees are scheduled and so much more. Michelle cares for clients and visitors like family and is the source of dozens of new ideas and streamlined processes each year.

Tim Day

GPS Corn Maze Installer

During the summer, you are busy. We met this 'need for speed' by developing our own method for installing corn mazes and large scale advertising logos with GPS. Tim, our Shenandoah Valley Virginia Maize Quest® franchisee, has become the master of installation saving our operators time and money by cutting their corn mazes cost-effectively.

Jenny Clendenen

Fun Park Team Lead

Jenny brought a much-needed 'checklist-focus' to the Fun Park as she revolutionized opening and closing procedures, training plans and incident response plans. Jenny's system works to entertain thousands of visitors a day with a team of part-time teenagers and retirees.

Janelle Hanchett

Social Media Coordinator & Wine Tasting Room Lead

Janelle is a key player in our Hybrid Marketing Team, the team to manage the farm pick-your-own and market, the winery, sunflower festival, Maize Quest Fun Park, Wine Your Way Out, and the Wine-a-Ritaville Beach Party. It's a total of (4) FB Pages, (4) Instagrams, (1) YouTube, plus 1-3 emails per week in season. She's dramatically increased our photography quality and frequency.

Logan Posey

Digital Tech & Drone Pilot

You'll interact with Logan if you forget your Username for an online course. He assists Hugh in everything digital including classes, video editing, he pilots the drone, programs the iPads and keeps the checkouts running. He's an avid Apple/iPhone fan and is happy to help with tech issues.

"Electronics Dave" Hahn

Maize Quest® Audio Systems

Our line of safety products began when Dave visited our maze and noted the sound system could use some improvement. Since then, we've developed a full line of safety, public address, hayride, and in-maze game audio systems with his help. Our farm never sounded so good! Dave expanded his role by heading up Pedal Karts USA as a rep for Prime Pedal Karts, a signature attraction at farms across the country.

Audra Jon Hoover

Website Developer / Graphic Designer

Audra has been working with the Maize Quest® team for over 15 years. She offers website design and development and graphic design services that will help your marketing and advertising efforts look professional and fun! We believe in consistent and custom themes, designs, and brochures for each operation. It's a higher standard than most designers, but it makes a marketing difference.

In their own words

As the Education & Operations Manager for the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association, I am responsible for vetting and selecting speakers for the Educational Program at our organization’s annual conference. Hugh McPherson ranks at the top of my list due to his subject knowledge on production, marketing, staffing and event management. His sessions are always full, his personality is engaging, and his ability to educate and inspire our attendees always garners outstanding reviews on our post-event surveys. I would highly recommend Hugh McPherson as a session presenter, as he has always created an exceptional experience for our attendees.

Jeff Winston

NAFDMA

Thank you for your site visit last spring. It is incredibly helpful to have another set of eyes on our operation and receive insight and recommendations from someone that understands what we do! We would never be charging (and receiving) some of the prices we charge without your suggestions (pushing, shaming)! We are looking forward to working with you this season!

Bill D.

Ohio

If we hadn't signed up for your Sunflower Class, we'd have had a ****ing disaster.

Kevin H.

Illinois

I can remember Hugh’s first visit like yesterday. Hugh I still owe you a lunch : ). Teaming up with Hugh and Maize Quest has impacted everything I do in a very positive way. Ag entertainment is taking my business to a level I never thought possible.

Mike M.

Massachusetts

Blog

The latest news, information, and resources

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Hugh's Enterprises

What does Hugh do? Learn more about his Agritourism businesses, training and marketing programs, and more! LEARN MORE

Hugh McPherson

Hugh stands for Positive. Business. Action.

Make a Connection

Blogs, Videos, & Podcast

Tools

Speaking